Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-12
The Dependent Pension Bill Vetoed

pension bill. In his message Tue ITeSlutnb
save "This il the frat general bill that has
been sanctioned by the Congress since the
close of the late civil war permitting pen
sion to the soldiers and sailors who served
in that war upon the ground of service and
present disability alone, and in the entire
absence of any injuries received by the casu-
alties or incidents of such service. While,
by almost constant legislation since the
close ofthis war, there has been compensation
awarded for every possible injury received
as result of military service in the Union
army. and while great number CT laws
passed for the purpose have been admins
tered with great liberality, and have been
supplemented by numerous private acts to
reach special cases, there has not, until now,
been an avowed departure from the principle
thus far adhered to, respecting Union SOL
diers, that the bounty of tie government IN
the way of pensions is generously bestowed
when granted to those who, in this military
service and in the line of military duty,
have. to greater or less extent, been dis
abled. But it is mistake to suppose that
service pensions, such as are permitted by
ths second section OF the bill under consid-
| GRAFTON, are new to our legislation.
Attention is then called to the pension
laws enacted heretofore, and their appica-
ton. A compai alive table OF the number Of
beneGciarios is presented Attention Is
called to the fact that for the year ending
June 80, 1887, $75, 900 has been appro
priated for the payment ofpensions, and the
amount expended for that purpose from
1861 to July /, 1856, is SSOS .624 l1.5l.
While annually paying out such vast sum
for pensions already granted, it is now pro-
posed by the bill under consideration to
award service pension to the soldiers OF
all wars in which the United States has
been engaged, including, of course, the war
Of tha rebellion, and 10 pay those entitled to
the benefits of the act the sum of twelve
dollars per month.
The pension it awards is allowed 10 en-.
listed men who have not suffered the least
injury. disability, loss or damage of any
kind, incurred in or in any degree referab!e
to their military service, including those
who never reached the front at all and
those discharged from rendezvous at the
close of the war, if discharged three months
after enlistment. Under the last call of the
President for troops, in December, 1861,
| IL SOB men were furnished who were thus
discharged.
The section allowing this pension does,
however, require, besides service OF three
months and sn honorable discharge, that
hose seeking the benefit of the act shall be
such as "are now or may hereafter be suiler
ing from mental or physical disability not
tbs result OF their own vicious habits or
gross carelessntss, which incapacitates them
for the performance OF labor in such de-
gree as to render them unable 10 earn sup
port, and who are dependent upon their
daily labor for support"
This meaning and scope OF the conditions
mentioned in this section are then reviewed
in detail, winding up with the following
| conclusion
ut will be observed that there is no limita-
ton or definition of the incapacitating inlu-
~ or aiment itself. 1t need only be such
degree of disability from any cause as rem
ders the claimant unable to earn support
by labor. 1t seems to noe that the support
here mentioned az one which cannot be
earned is complete and entire support,
with no dimunition on account OF the least
| impairment of physical or mental condition
| If it had been intended to embrace only
those who by disease or injury were totally
unable to labor, it would have been very
easy to express that idea, instead Of recog-
nizng, ss is done, degree of such ina.
biity.
"Who is to determine whether man earns
it. or has it, or has it not? Is the govern
ment to enter the homes of claimants for
pension, and, after an examination OF their
surroundings aud circumstances. settle those
questions Shall the government say to
one man that his manner of Subsistence by
his earnings is support, and to another
that the things his earnings furnish are not
support? Any attempt however honest,
to administer this law in such manner
would necessarily produce more unfairpess
and unjust discrimination and give more
scope for partisan partiallty, and would re-
suit in more perversion of the governments
benevolent intentions than the execution OF
any statute ought to permit.
"If in the effort TO carry out the proposed
law the degree of disability as related to
earnings be considered for the purpose OF
discovering if in any way it curtais the sup
port which the applicant, if entirely sound,
would earn, and to which he is entitled, we
enter the broad field long occupied by The
Pension Bureau, and we recognize as the
only difference between the proposed legis.
latiou and previous laws passed for the bene-
fit of the surviving soldiers Of the, civil war
the ncurrence in one case Of disabilities IN
military service, and in the other disabilities
existing, but in no way connected with or
resulting from such service.
1T must be borne in mind that in DO case
is there any grading OF this proposed pen
sion. Under the operation Of the rule, the
first suggested. if there is q lack in any de-
gree, great or small, of the ability to earn
such support as the government deter
mines the claimant should have, and by the
application of the rule secondly suggested,
if there is q reduction in any degree of the
support which he might earn, if sound, he
is entitled to pension of Sl2.
I'm the latter case, and under the proviso
of the proposed bill, permitting persons nov
receiving pensions to be admitted to the
benefits of the act, do not see how those
now on the pension roll for disabilities in
Cured in the service, and which diminish
their earning capacity, can be denied the
pension provided in this bill.
\ Another condition required OF
claimants under this act is that they shall
ALL l,i,A f@r